ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - An eastern Pennsylvania man has been sentenced to one to five years in state prison for involuntary manslaughter in the beating death of his elderly neighbor.

The (Easton) Express-Times (http://bit.ly/1oTO7G3 ) reports that 23-year-old Alexander Roscioli of Emmaus was sentenced Wednesday in Lehigh County in the August 2013 death of 70-year-old John Sweeney.

Prosecutors said the two lived in the same apartment complex and had an ongoing feud over such things as music and noise complaints. Authorities said an argument turned physical and Sweeney attacked the defendant with a child's hockey stick, so Roscioli punched him repeatedly.

Defense attorney John Waldron said his client "acted under a strong provocation."

Roscioli said he wanted to apologize to the victim's relatives, adding that he had "learned about the fragility of human life."

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Information from: The (Easton, Pa.) Express-Times,

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com